Vacuum-tube apparatus.



D. MOP. MOORE.

VACUUM TUBE APPARATUS;

APPLICATION-TILED PR. 9, 1am. I

WITNESSES:

EATENTED, AUG., 11, 1908. l

INVENTUR Donal lflffl-lm [float-e ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. DANIEL l\lcFARLAN Moons, OF newiir c, NEW JERSE AssIeNoa TO MOORE LECTRICAL COMPANY, or NEW YORK, n. Y., A CQRPORATION OF-NEW YORK.

VACUUM-TUBE APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern: I

and State ofNew Jersey, (with post-oflice address 52 Lawrence street,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum-Tube A paratus, of which the following is a speci cation.

The present invention relates to vacuum tube or vapor electric lamps, vacuum or vapor rectifiers, X-ray tubes, vacuum oscillographs, wireless telegraph receivers and other devices which are provided with suitable electric terminals whereby electric energy may be passed through the gaseous contents of the tube for any pur ose and which enerally may be classifie under the bee of 'vacuum tubes.

'My present invention relates to vacuum tube apparatus in which the desired gas or vapor tension is maintained automatically in stable or normal condition by feedin the gas from any suitable source into the tube whenever a reduction of tension occurs, the feed ing devices being organized or combined with a pliances which shall automatically res on to a reduction of tension.

11 one of the plans heretofore employed by me, the feeding is governed by an electromagnet, which acts through a lowering of the resistance of the gas or vapor due to reduction of its tension, but other means of bringing about a feed of the air or gas upon reduction of tension and automatically responsive thereto may be used. The air or gas so fed is derived from a body of air or gas normally and constantly under a tension greater than that of the contents of the tube, so that on the opening of a ort or passage momentarily, the said gaswill ow into the tube and rest-ore the tension of the contents to normal. Such supply of gas is, in some cases, the contents of a tank or receiver in which the supply is stored, and in other cases the atmosphere has been used as the source of supply. Where it is necessary, however, to use some particular character of gas, the same has ieretofore been stored under pressurein a tank, which, obviously, will afford a comparatively limited supply unless tanks of cumbersome size or dimension be employed.

The object of my present invention is' to simplify the apparatus, reduce its size and affords means whereby the tube may be run Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 2, 1906. Boris-l KoQSOQfiBBj laten-ted Aug. 11, 1908.

for indefinitely long periods through the admission thereto, from time to time, of a gas which is controlled in its flow to the tube by a suitable valve or gas pressure regulator.

To this end the invention consists in the combination with the vacuum tube, of a. tank or receiver containing a readily vaporizable liquid or one which will readily turn into'a gas or vapor on reduction of its surface tension, pipes or passages connecting said receiver with the vacuum tube and an interposed regulator or governor of the gas flow.

My invention-being especially useful in connection with vacuum tube lamps, I will describe the same specifically with reference to that class of vacuum tubes, from which its application to other vacuum tubes will be readily understood.

As an example only of the means for regulating or governin the flow of the gas to the tube, I will describe a valve whose action is controlled by an electromagnet operatingin response to the changes of electrical resistance between the electrodes of the tube consequent upon a diminution of the gas or va or tension.

n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1' shows in eneral side elevation and partial section a form of apparatus embodying my invention.

1 indicates the vacuum tube and 2 any 7 is a tank or receiver sealed and commu- 1.00

one condition on re uction of tension at its surface. Such material mi ht be alcohol or ether or a solid even might e used.

Interposed in the passages leading to the tube 7 is a valve such as described in a prior application for patent filed by me and com- Said tube 6 may branch as 5 prising a chamber IOcOntaining a body of mercury 11 which normally seals or partially seals the opening through which the gas or vapor derived from pipe 9 may pass from chamber 10 into pipe 6. In the liquid 11 is a plunger or displacer 12 sustained 1n part by the core of an electromagnet 13 to which said displacer is attached. The coils of the magnet 13 are connected to the circuit of the tubein such manner that on reduction of tension and change of resistance in the tube said coils will take more current, thereby lifting the displacer, lowering the level of the liquid,-

and permitting the gas or vapor to pass into tube 6 and thence to the vacuum tube. This passage of the gas or vapor will obviously take place owing to the fact that the gas or vapor tension will be higher than that normally maintained in tube 1 owing to the adjustment of the regulating appliances. A- minute quantity only flows before the tension in 1v rises so as to cause the magnet to close the valve and sto the flow. A reduction of tension in the task 7 and communicating spaces up to the regulating valve be low that which is necessary to practically maintain the contents 8 in the liquid or solid condition will plermit the evolution of more gas or vapor w ich will therefore, be ready at hand and in a state of tension in the chamber 10 superior to the tension in tubes 1 and 6, so that a feedof gas will take lace whenever the communication is opened by the gas regulating valve.

By the use of my invention, vacuum tubes may be run for very long periods without re newal of any portion of the apparatus.

What I claim as my invention is: I

1. The combination of a vacuum tube, a receiver containing material adapted to release the gas or vapor on reduction of surface tension, pipes or passages connecting said receiver with the vacuum tube and means for regulating the flow of such gas or vapor to maintain a constant tension in the vacuum tube.

2. The combination of a. vacuum tube, a tank or receiver containing a material capable of evolving a as or vapor, pipes or passages connecting the same with the tube. an interposed valve controlling the flow of the gas or vapor, and means responsive to a change of gas or vapor tension in the tube for oper ating said valve.

3. The combination of a vacuum tube lam a closed receptacle containing a vaporiza le material, a valve interposed in the passage between said receptacle and the lamp.

4. The combination of a vacuum tube lamp, a receptacle containing a vaporizable liquid and an automagnetic valve in the passage between said receptacle and the lamp.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this th day of March A. D. 1906.

DANIEL MoFARLAN MOORE.

Witnesses:

C. F. TISCHNER, Jr., LILLIAN BLOND. 

